Rationale: Services Management, and indeed management at all levels in the Information Technology industry, requires a specific set of competencies. The management competencies include skills required in general services management and more specific competencies associated with, and specific to, Information Systems and Technology. The Diploma syllabus is designed to develop an awareness of the variety of skills necessary to manage successfully in an Information Systems environment. Aims: To examine the relationship between computer based information systems, management and organisations To review concepts of management and organisation in the context of Information Technology To describe traditional information support systems for managers To understand the major issues concerning the management, development and operation of computer based information systems Objectives: Explain systems and management concepts and their relevance for information systems Understand the importance and the need for professionalism in managing computer based systems Explain the strategic use of information technology and the effect of advances in telecommunications and other equipment Discuss the need for special types of MIS and describe their components Describe the issues of planning the development of computer based applications Understand the need for control and maintenance of information systems Understand the importance of managing remote and network services Examine the operational issues concerned with the management of information systems Prior Knowledge Expected: 1 P a g e v : 2 0 0 2 1 4
Candidates are expected to be familiar with the material covered in the Certificate syllabuses. Content: INFORMATION SYSTEMS Information systems components Organisations and management The information system as a sociotechnical system The strategic use of Information Technology MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS Informational needs of organisations Capabilities of information systems from an organisational perspective Information requirements for management Levels of planning and control with MIS MIS support for business functions Management reporting systems and transaction processing systems SYSTEMS AND MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS Systems approach, organisational design, MIS in organisational control e.g. feedback etc. Management theory and management functions Concepts of planning 2 P a g e v : 2 0 0 2 1 4
Role of information systems in the planning process (e.g. modelling and forecasting) Using MIS to enhance management control: performance reports, break-even analysis, calculation of financial ratios e.g. return on investment MANAGERIAL DECISION MAKING Decision-making Components of Decision Support Systems Types of DSS Building a DSS Executive Information Systems Organisational aspects of DSS and EIS CULTURAL DIMENSION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT Factors of organisational complexity in relation to information systems development Human aspects of information systems Contribution of system development approaches (such as Soft Systems Methodology and ETHICS) Measures of performance to cover performance factors and service level agreements Departmental and project budgets, including specific reference to training costs 3 P a g e v : 2 0 0 2 1 4
PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONALISM Professional concepts in relation to professional practices e.g. the BCS Code of Conduct. Business ethics. ACQUISITION OF SOFTWARE, HARDWARE, MEDIA AND CONSUMABLES Specification of hardware and software configurations and systems Implications of throughput, resilience and reliability Alternatives, costs and solutions Selection criteria, acquisitions, purchase, hire or lease, facilities management INSTALLATION AND SITE PLANNING, SECURITY AND EXTERNAL THREATS Planning, scheduling and co-ordinating contractors, suppliers and services Progress control and monitoring Installation, test planning, acceptance criteria and trials Implications of throughput, resilience and reliability Workload External threats and strategies to limit their effect Security APPLICATIONS AND SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Distributed, intelligent systems, electronic mail Communication Networks 4 P a g e v : 2 0 0 2 1 4
Intelligent office Characteristics of telecommunication systems Software production Control of data Operating system facilities 5 P a g e v : 2 0 0 2 1 4